Older father, younger mother, bad idea for baby? - Science, News - The IndependentThe offspring of older fathers are more likely to do less well in intelligence tests than the children of younger men, scientists say, and it may be the result of genetic problems with the sperm of men over 45. The children of older mothers, by contrast, tend to fare better in intelligence tests than children with younger mothers. The researchers believe this may be the result of better nurturing by more mature women.
It is one of the anomalies of modern life that bodies are best for healthy procreation at a relatively young age, but emotional maturity lags quite far behind.
Why unexpected?
ReplyDeleteIt makes intuitive sense that as the male body deteriorates so too does the quality of sperm production. Would anyone really expect sperm quality in a man of 50 to be as good as a man half that age?
It's a very long time overdue for medical science to look into the other 50% of the reproductive equation. Utterly irresponsible and sexist that it hasn't been done until now.
Regardless of research, bottom line is that humans have optimum breeding years, just because we can continue breed outside those years doesn't mean we should.
Well, I guess not so unexpected, given that there was publicity in the last few years about older men having kids with much greater chance of mental illness. Still, in a way, I would have thought that a connection with intelligence would have been noticed some time ago. Old codgers have been having babies with young women for quite some time, after all.
ReplyDeleteTrue, true!
ReplyDeleteCan't argue with that point Steve.
I wonder though, has this been the case for so long because men, no matter their age are deemed to be strong, healthy and virile, while women only have value in their most youthful and optimum child bearing years?
A deep sexism as old as recorded time.
The intelligence factor was, to be fair, a pretty minor difference. The mental health aspect is likely to be a more warranted continuation of the research.